Toothbrush



March 5, 1957 P. BELLAM TOOTHBRUSH Filed April 2, 1953 n Ill.

Fig 3a v INVENTOR. Paul Bellqm ATTORNEY Fig. 6'

United States Patent TOOTHBRUSH Paul Bellam, Hewlett, N. Y.

Application April 2, 1953, Serial No. 346,398

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-244) The present invention relates to brushes and applica- :tors and more particularly to a single service type of toothbrush which may be inexpensively manufactured for wide distribution at places convenient to the public such as washrooms or cigar counters.

It is Well known that the immediate brushing of teeth after meals has a deterring effect on tooth decay and that frequent massaging keeps the gums in healthy condition. Persons who dine away from home find it impractical to carry a suitable toothbrush with them and cannot now obtain an inexpensive disposable type brush for use on such occasions.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an inexpensive efficient toothbrush which may be dispensed from vending machines placed in wash rooms of oflices, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, trains, etc.

An object of the present invention is to provide an effective tooth cleansing unit of such small cost that it may be thrown away after a single use.

Another object is to provide a single use toothbrush with a self contained dentifrice.

Another object is to provide a toothbrush which not only has superior cleansing characteristics but which also is excellent for massaging the gums.

Another object is to provide an inexpensive applicator which a manufacturer can readily afford to distribute with paste, powder or liquid products.

A further object is to provide an inexpensive applicator with a self contained paste, powder or liquid product.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claim, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the toothbrush;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the toothbrush in section along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3a, 3b, and 3c are sectional views of the handle along the lines 33 of Fig. 1 showing alternate shapes;

Fig. 3d is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing a laminated handle;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the handle insertion tool with a handle placed on it;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the insertion tool and the handle;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view in section of a vacuum device for holding the brush portion in shape during insertion of the handle and the injection of a dentifrice.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, 1 represents the brush body of the toothbrush and 2 the handle. The brush body 1 is made of yieldable material such as sponge or foam made of natural or synthetic "ice 2 rubber, polyvinyl plastic or the like. The brush body 1 has its upper surface corrugated with triangular ridges 5. The ridges are made integral with the brush body 1 in the molding or vshaping process. The foamed plastic or rubber sponge is easily shaped by cutting, stamping or molding into the' brush body 1.

The brush handle 2 is preferably made from stifi fibrous material such as paper. A flat strip is shaped into a channel form such as one of the forms shown in Fig. 3a or 311 to stiifen the handle. Before or after shaping, the handle is treated to give it water resistance. The degree of water resistance may be controlled so that the handle will either be unusable after a single usage or if so desired, last for many usages. The end portion of the handle 4 has its end serrated in barbed fashion. These barbs grip the brush body 1 and prevent removal of the handle after its insertion. The handle is inserted into the brush body so that a flexible portion remains between the handle end and the brush body end. This flexible portion protects the user from coming into contact with the hard handle end and also allows the flexible end of the brush body to be more easily maneuvered into the less accessible regionsof the mouth.

While a handle made of fibous material is preferred, the handle may be made of wood, plastic or other suitable materials, or a combination or lamination thereof and the shape varied to suit the material.

Fig. 4 shows a channel shaped handle 2 fitted upon a special knife-like insertion tool 6. This tool is shaped to fit within the handle and is used to insert the handle in the brush body 1. The tool has a leading edge 7 which is razor sharp and pointed to facilitate its slitting the brush body 1. The handle is slipped over the tool and is placed against stop 9. The tool is then forced into the brush body portion carrying the handle with it.

Spring 10 between clip 11 and stop 9 normally holds stop 9, which is slidably mounted on tool 6, against the tool grip 8. Tool 6 is forced into brush body 1 far enough so that edge 7 reaches a position short of the far end of brush body. Stop 9 is moved against clip 11, thus moving the barbed end of the handle 2 even with edge 7 and all the way into the slit formed in brush body 1. The tool 6 is then withdrawn from the brush leaving the handle 2 firmly held in the brush body.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the handle and insertion tool assembled for the insertion of the handle into the brush. After the handle has been inserted the desired distance into the brush, the tool is easily withdrawn through the center of the handle by the exposed tool grip 8.

Fig. 6 shows a vacuum or suction device to retain the brush body in shape while the handle is being inserted. The trough-like portion 13 of the member 12 is shaped so that the brush closely fits it. Holes 14 in the walls of the trough 13 subject three sides of the brush to a vacuum maintained by the removal of air through port 15. This holds the brush body in shape while the insertion tool and handle are being forced into it. The use of the vacuum on three sides also tends to stretch the brush body outwardly. After the tool is withdrawn and the vacuum removed, the brush body draws back into its normal shape and tightly grips the handle. The vacuum principle of securing the sponge head during the joining operation may be applied to one or more sides, either alone or in combination with some other retaining method.

The single use toothbrush above described is ideally suited for manufacture with a self-contained dentifrice. This is due to the porosity and the flexibility of the brush body 1 which when wetted and agitated causes a foaming action to occur. One technique of utilizing this characteristic is to imbed a dentifrice in suitable locations beneath the surface of the brush bod'yl; Fig; 2 shows two pockets of dentifrice 18 spaced laterally in a ridge 5 Thedentifrice 1 8'ma'y be put in all or a portion of the several ridges 5 as required. Fig. 6 shows a dentifrice 17 which may be a suitablevliquid, powder or paste being injected into the brush body 1 by an injection' needle or gun 1 6;

In commercial practice a number of trough-like portions 13 would be provided anda grou of handles would be ifiserted simultaneously or consecutively. Similarly a multiple dentifrice-injection device could be used to form the pock ets 18 simultaneously.

It-will be seen that an efiicient; inexpensive toothbrush has been provided as well as a method for its manufactur'e. I

The brush body portion is not only excellent for cleaning teeth but is also excellent for massaging the gums. The brush is sufliciently sturdy to be used a number of times and'is sutficiently inexpensive to be throw away after one use. I

As various changes mayv be'made in the form, materials, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing; any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting in any sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A disposable toothbrush comprising the combination of a-brush body of yieldablesponge material, a'ehahnel shaped slit running from one surface only partially through said brush body, an elongated handle having a channel-shaped cross section corresponding generally to the cross sectional shape of said slit and having one end portion inserted into said slit whereby said handle penetrates a substantial portion of said brush body, said handle having a set of longitudinally spaced barbs on each flange of the inserted end to retain said inserted end portion in the slit, and said handle being formed of a water repellent sheet material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 938,421 Hakins Oct. 26, 1909 982,232 Barthelmew Jan. 24, 1911 1,219,147 Picard Mar. 13, 1917 1,384,936 Bowman July 19, 1921 1,473,000 Weatherwhx Nov. 6, 1923 1,604,731 Whittaker Oct. 26,1926 2,092,438 Wilt Sept. 7, .1937 2,114,892 Vaughn Apr. 19, 1938 2,218,738 Boysen Oct. 22, 1940 2,283,686 McCune May 19, 1942 2,491,274 McNeill Dec. 13, 1949' 2,555,858 Oleksy June 5, 1951 

